Portuguese and Brazilian music, costumes and decorations will hit central Iowa this weekend.”Carnaval 2001,” a celebration similar to Mardi Gras, will start at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Zone, 125 Main St.Carnaval is sponsored by the Portuguese Association and has been held for several years at Iowa State, said Ana Quelhas, president of the Portuguese Association. At least 220 people are expected this year — the number at the sold-out celebration last year, said Alex Rodrigues, vice president of the association. The event attracts not only members of the Ames and ISU community, but also visitors from Minnesota and Kansas. Tickets will be on sale for $5 in the Memorial Union all day Friday. Information can also be found by e-mailing [email protected] is held 40 days before Easter every year in Brazil and Portugal, and is similar to Mardi Gras, said Quelhas, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering from Portugal.She said the celebrations in the two countries are essentially the same because Portugal took over Brazil about 500 years ago.”The celebrations got started in Portugal and moved over the Brazil,” Quelhas said. “When they got to Brazil, the celebrations got even more fun. Everybody participates, and they dress up in costumes to pretend they are different people, or they just dress as crazy as they can.”Rodrigues, senior in mechanical engineering from Brazil, said Saturday’s Carnaval will include Brazilian music, called “Samba” and “Axe,” along with decorations.”We will also have a best costume contest, but wearing a costume is not a requirement,” he said. “In Brazil, we have costume judging as well as the same music we will be having at this year’s Carnaval.”Carnaval will also highlight the atmosphere of Brazil and Portugal.”At this year’s Carnaval, we want to give our guests an idea of what the music, colors and fun of the original celebrations in Brazil and Portugal are like,” Rodrigues said. “We basically want to provide the community with the flavor of Brazil and Portugal.”